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This list is more a dumping ground of tips for the South Bay that don't really fit into my other lists (https://foursquare.com/tmcghan/lists/created). You still might find something cool though...
Laundry Service · West Valley · 2 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Super friendly owners, they use "green" substances, and the system is fully digital with barcodes / lookup by phone number. What's not to like?
Ramen Restaurant · West Valley · 21 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Solve one of the many riddles posted around and earn yourself a free 3 pieces of nori! Just don't be THAT GUY and use your smartphone to cheat. I promise it won't taste nearly as satisfying...
Tom McGhan: Skip the sandwich and get the roast suckling pig. Just $155!! You can feed your family, or one really really fat guy. Or 2 kinda fat guys and 8 kids. Or 4 kinda fat guys. THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES!
Tom McGhan: If you can't wait at home for a package that requires signature for most anyplace in the South Bay, you gotta come here. Unfortunately it's only open Mon-Fri 9am–5:30pm. Yes, it's THAT inconvenient.
1145 S. De Anza Blvd. (Kentwood Ave.), San Jose, CA
Spa · 2 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The three things to know: You can book appointments online, they're open 10am-11pm, and it's $20 for a 1-hour foot+arms+back+neck massage. It's the most obnoxiously great massage deal in the bay.
Tom McGhan: It's cash only, so make sure you got the goods before you walk through the door, but this place is legit. You go to supercuts to cut corners. You come here to cut your hair.
980 El Camino Real Ste 100 (LaFayette St.), Santa Clara, CA
Grocery Store · 1 tip
Tom McGhan: A few doors down from the Euro Grill, this market's primary utility is in all the different kinds of Eastern European candies and chocolates. Drop $20 on anything that looks good, you won't regret it!
Tom McGhan: Kids eat free on Sundays. Your feelings about throngs of children, hands covered in BBQ sauce, running around should dictate whether it's a good idea for you to frequent this place on Sundays.
5175 Moorpark Ave, #3 (at Lawrence Expy), San Jose, CA
Pet Supplies Store · Mitty · 4 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The owner is immensely knowledgeable, can answer any question you have, will work to solve any problem you encounter, has stock you can't find most places, with reasonable prices. Shop here, ok?!?
Tom McGhan: I wanted to like this place: it's got cute novelty items and a good range of selection but let's be real here. Gas stations have better prices on candy. Seriously!
5205 Prospect Rd Ste 157 (at Saratoga Ave), San Jose, CA
Liquor Store · 6 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The Duvel is a Belgian beer low in hops and high in deliciousness! They have big bottles inside the chill chest and smaller bottles in the Belgian section. Pick one up, you won't regret it.
1020 N Rengstorff Ave #F (at Leghorn St), Mountain View, CA
Comic Book Store · 11 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Yeah, you might save a buck or two buying that trade paperback on Amazon, but buy here to support a local shop and because of the friendly and knowledgeable staff.
1494 Halford Ave (at El Camino Real), Santa Clara, CA
Vintage and Thrift Store · 3 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: These places are best for books. It's all about luck and timing with regards to their furniture. I strongly suggest you avoid the clothes. It's where fashion goes to die.
Tom McGhan: What is with the bathrooms here?! The creepy oxen yoke mirror, confusingly putting hand soap in a purel dispenser... it's an Oregon Trail rest stop gone wrong!
116 E El Camino Real (Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd), Sunnyvale, CA
Burger Joint · 44 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: If you have an Android phone, get the five guys app and skip the line by ordering ahead! You can even place orders for future dates and times, so you can get your burger on whenever you want :-)
108 N Rengstorff Ave (at Central Expy), Mountain View, CA
Chinese Restaurant · 21 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Small family-run shop with a super friendly owner. Don't be afraid to ask her for recommendations, but definitely get the xiao long bao, (they're pork soup dumplings). Delicious!
71 Curtner Ave Ste 20 (at Monterey Rd), San Jose, CA
Seafood Restaurant · South San Jose · 71 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: If you're worried about rising a spice level when deciding your order, just get some cajun fries at the next level up. That way you'll know if you can handle it on your seafood for next time!
Pet Supplies Store · West Valley · 4 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: I love the variety of items here, but make sure to price check against Amazon. They beat their prices by as much as 40%!! Their reviews are incredibly helpful too, if you have to buy it today.
125 E El Camino Real (at Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd), Sunnyvale, CA
Sporting Goods Retail · Ponderosa · 15 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Wow. The clearance racks here are so incredibly disorganized. No sorting by sizes, the hanger size clips are wrong more often than they're right. You can find deals here but it takes a ton of work...
1601 Hollenbeck Ave (W Homestead Rd), Sunnyvale, CA
Grocery Store · Serra · 11 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Don't use the self checkout lanes if you want to bag with paper, since it throws the scales off and the system will keep stopping you and bitching.
3665 Flora Vista Ave (at El Camino Real), Santa Clara, CA
Government Building · 74 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: Is it near the end of the month? Stay away. People come here to renew registration without appointments and it's insane, all day. Check online for average wait times, and pick a faster DMV.
Tom McGhan: Not everything that's actually on sale has been tagged with the sale price. Don't be deterred, just check similar items, or ask the staff for the correct price.
3215 Stevens Creek Blvd (at S. Winchester Blvd.), San Jose, CA
Mattress Store · 1 tip
Tom McGhan: This is a pretty bare-bones operation, but I got an absolutely obscene deal here, and overall had the best mattress-buying experience of my life!
1030 El Paseo de Saratoga (at W Campbell Ave.), San Jose, CA
Juice Bar · West Valley · 18 tips and reviews
Tom McGhan: The steel-cut oatmeal is slow-cooked and way better for you than anything you make at home, trust me. Even just the brown sugar crumble is enough to make it yummy (if you're counting calories)!
Tom McGhan: Bored while waiting for your food? There are crates of peanuts in between some trash cans by the drinks. But unlike the original DC location, don't drop the shells on the floor!